Towards Orderly Spiritual Evolution

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

Towards Orderly Spiritual Evolution
Life is very systematically and orderly arranged in Sanatana Dharma. There is opportunity
for the development of the different sides of human activity. Due occupations and training are
assigned to each period of life. Life is a great school in which the powers, capacities and faculties of
man are to be evolved gradually.
Every man should pass through the different Asramas regularly. He should not enter any
stage of life prematurely. He can enter the next stage, only when each has been completed. In
nature, evolution is gradual. It is not revolutionary.

Lord Manu says in his Smriti: “Having studied the Vedas or two Vedas or even one Veda in
due order without breaking celibacy, let him dwell in the householder order. When the householder
sees wrinkles in his skin and whiteness in his hair and the son of his son, then let him retire to the
forest. Having passed the third portion of life in the forests, let him, having abandoned attachments,
wander as an ascetic in the fourth portion of life.”
In extraordinary cases, however, some of the stages may be omitted. Suka was a born
Sannyasin. Sankara took Sannyasa without entering the stage of a householder. In rare and
exceptional cases, a student is allowed to become a Sannyasin, his debts to the world having been
fully paid in a previous birth. Nowadays, young Sannyasins without qualification are found in
abundance. This is contrary to the ancient rules and causes much trouble.